Nuggets' Ujiri named Executive of Year

Vice president wants to bring title to Denver

DENVER -- If the architect was, like, an actual architect, he would be Frank Gehry -- innovative and daring, building outside-the-box buildings that clearly weren't boxed.

Masai Ujiri, the Nuggets' architect, built a basketball team differently. Void of a superstar, he pieced together pieces, constructing a roster that fit the mad-scientist strategies of coach George Karl.

It worked, at least in the regular season.

Ujiri was rewarded Thursday for his work, presented with the NBA award for executive of the year, which is selected by his front-office peers. The Nuggets, who won a franchise NBA-best 57 games, finished third in the Western Conference and were the second-youngest team to make the playoffs. Golden State, a No. 6 seed, ousted the Nuggets in the first round.

"It's a little bittersweet for me. I would trade (this trophy) to be playing right now," Ujiri said at a news conference at the Pepsi Center. "Mr. (Stan) Kroenke (the Nuggets owner) didn't have to give me a chance. My background is scouting and the love of the game. But tons of people have given me great chances to be here."

Ujiri's balanced roster had nine players who averaged 8.0 to 16.7 points and a bench that ranked second in scoring (41.3) in the league. The fast-paced Nuggets averaged 58 points a game in the paint, the most since the NBA began tracking that stat. Among the seven teams that won at least 50 games this season, Denver was the only one without an All-Star selection.

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While Ujiri's award is for the 2012-13 season, it may as well be a testament to his three seasons with the Nuggets. Ujiri took the job in the summer of 2010 and was forced to deal with the reality that his star player wanted out. Ujiri worked for months on the Carmelo Anthony trade that was completed in February 2011, a blockbuster deal that led to a total rebuilding of the Denver roster. Ten players on this season's team arrived as an offshoot of the Anthonytrade.

"Championship, that's the goal in Denver. That's what we want to do here," Ujiri said. "But after what we've been through in the past three years, starting almost all over, we figured out a way to get younger and better. And these players play their butts off."

Two newsy tidbits came out of the news conference.

First, Ujiri said he is "very positive" he will sign a new contract with the Nuggets this summer, reiterating what team president Josh Kroenke told The Denver Post last week.

Second, Ujiri said the team is "very optimistic that things will go well" to keep Andre Iguodala. He is under contract for $16 million next season but can opt out this summer and sign a longer deal with any team in the league, including Denver.

"I think he grew as the year went on and began to play better," Ujiri said. "He's a great kid, great for our basketball. ... We want him back."

Ujiri, 42, is the first African-born general manager in major American pro sports. He spoke proudly of his achievement but added, "Just having it by my name doesn't help me. Yeah, I was the first. As the first African GM, I have to produce. By producing and by winning, that will change things over there and give opportunities. I'm proud, but I have a lot of work to do to help grow the game over there."

Ujiri had 59 voting points and received eight first-place votes from a panel of his league peers. The Los Angeles Clippers' Gary Sacks finished second with 28 points (three first-place votes). The Houston Rockets' Daryl Morey and the New York Knicks' Glen Grunwald tied for third with 25 points (four first-place votes).

Ujiri is the third Nuggets executive to win the award, joining Mark Warkentien (2008-09 season) and Vince Boryla (1984-85).

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